Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Klazu]

So they are moving the Richards bike lane from West side to east side or am I understanding incorrectly? Why?

Soon every single street has a bike lane which is ridiculous and this is from someone who just bought a new e-bike. Make bike lanes but not at the expense of major arterials!

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Klazu

So they are moving the Richards bike lane from West side to east side or am I understanding incorrectly? Why?

Soon every single street has a bike lane which is ridiculous and this is from someone who just bought a new e-bike. Make bike lanes but not at the expense of major arterials!

Two way cycling on the east side:

https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/downtown-bike-network-expansion.aspx

[idunno]

I wouldn't exactly call Richards an 'arterial' road. Especially when it gets past Smithe Street it's basically a residential access street.

The design of this project essentially replicates Hornby Street, but going southbound. Some sections will only have one through lane, depending on street parking and rush regs.

I'm actually surprised people are reacting so strongly on this forum. This project was generally well received by the public/media when it was introduced last year, and has more or less carried on quietly since then.

For those of you saying 'bike lanes are everywhere,' this is about quality, AAA infrastructure. Painted bike lanes don't count as safe or comfortable choices for a large portion of the would-be or actively-cycling population.

Having a secondary AAA N/S route through downtown (parallel to Hornby) is not asking for much. When it's connected to the Granville Bridge facilities with Drake St, our downtown will be fully connected with a box grid surrounding the centre of the city. And it'll be fantastic!

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by idunno

For those of you saying 'bike lanes are everywhere,' this is about quality, AAA infrastructure. Painted bike lanes don't count as safe or comfortable choices for a large portion of the would-be or actively-cycling population.

Having a secondary AAA N/S route through downtown (parallel to Hornby) is not asking for much. When it's connected to the Granville Bridge facilities with Drake St, our downtown will be fully connected with a box grid surrounding the centre of the city. And it'll be fantastic!

Yep pretty much. This bike lane will be an excellent step towards the completion of AAA biking downtown.

I'd be more concerned about street parking on "arterials" or other busy downtown streets. That's a complete waste of valuable roadspace IMO.

[TwoFace]

I suspect the only people that are complaining about bike lanes are ones that don't live downtown.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by idunno

I wouldn't exactly call Richards an 'arterial' road. Especially when it gets past Smithe Street it's basically a residential access street.

The design of this project essentially replicates Hornby Street, but going southbound. Some sections will only have one through lane, depending on street parking and rush regs.

I'm actually surprised people are reacting so strongly on this forum. This project was generally well received by the public/media when it was introduced last year, and has more or less carried on quietly since then.

For those of you saying 'bike lanes are everywhere,' this is about quality, AAA infrastructure. Painted bike lanes don't count as safe or comfortable choices for a large portion of the would-be or actively-cycling population.

Having a secondary AAA N/S route through downtown (parallel to Hornby) is not asking for much. When it's connected to the Granville Bridge facilities with Drake St, our downtown will be fully connected with a box grid surrounding the centre of the city. And it'll be fantastic!

The vast majority of the bikes I ever saw on Richards were Foodora, Doordash etc. Hardly a critical cycling route. Or even particularly well-used.

[s211]

And once again, I hear nothing but one-perspective apologists plugging their ears and jumping to conclusions instead being open to properly discussing the issue.

slow clap, zealots.

[CivicBlues]

No one else is miffed by the fact this is probably the 4th or 5th(?) reconfiguration of Richards street in the last 10 years or so. Bunch of incompetent idiots or make-work do-gooders in the city planning department. It's not like we just discovered how to build protected bike lanes last year.

Speaking about Foodora, is anyone else still seeing their delivery people around town? I thought they were supposed to shut down as of May 11th?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The vast majority of the bikes I ever saw on Richards were Foodora, Doordash etc. Hardly a critical cycling route. Or even particularly well-used.

If you build it, they will come.

I mean doesn't it stand to reason that maybe they weren't using it because it was a bit random and unsafe?

It's a clear completion of a large grid network of AAA routes.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

No one else is miffed by the fact this is probably the 4th or 5th(?) reconfiguration of Richards street in the last 10 years or so. Bunch of incompetent idiots or make-work do-gooders in the city planning department. It's not like we just discovered how to build protected bike lanes last year.

The painted bike lane on the west side is the only thing I recall in the last 10 years. I'm open to being corrected though.

[CivicBlues]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The painted bike lane on the west side is the only thing I recall in the last 10 years. I'm open to being corrected though.

ok maybe we have to go back 15 years. I used to work in the area and drove Richards practically every weekday. Seems to be perpetually under construction.

From memory the configuration since 2005 has been:
1. 4 lanes general purpose with parking
2. Right bike lane added with parking
3. Reconfigured with parking protected bike lane
4. Whatever the hell they're doing now

You can check Google Street view, but it only goes back to 2009 and until 2019. You'll see configurations 2 and 3.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

ok maybe we have to go back 15 years. I used to work in the area and drove Richards practically every weekday. Seems to be perpetually under construction.

From memory the configuration since 2005 has been:
1. 4 lanes general purpose with parking
2. Right bike lane added with parking
3. Reconfigured with parking protected bike lane
4. Whatever the hell they're doing now

You can check Google Street view, but it only goes back to 2009 and until 2019. You'll see configurations 2 and 3.

Telus Garden and the park didn't help the feeling of constant construction. From what I can tell, the bike lane was painted in around 2015, and only went as far north as Robson.

Believe me I live near Olympic Village and the constant tearing up of the road and replacement is annoying.

[GenWhy?]

2006 - Painted lines
2013 - Relocated to be protected by parked cars
2020 - AAA bike route

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

2006 - Painted lines
2013 - Relocated to be protected by parked cars
2020 - AAA bike route

I bow to your googling!

Painted lanes on busy streets don't make me feel safe, but I really liked the relocation to the sidewalk side. It was actually nicer as a pedestrian to be more separated from traffic. It's too bad that didn't catch on around more of the city. Was it too hard for parkers to figure out?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

No one else is miffed by the fact this is probably the 4th or 5th(?) reconfiguration of Richards street in the last 10 years or so. Bunch of incompetent idiots or make-work do-gooders in the city planning department. It's not like we just discovered how to build protected bike lanes last year.

Speaking about Foodora, is anyone else still seeing their delivery people around town? I thought they were supposed to shut down as of May 11th?

It's City Engineers who design and plan bike lanes.

Try ordering Foodora. Their insulated boxes were good though, so delivery riders still find them useful, whichever service they're delivering for.

[truenorth44]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I bow to your googling!

Painted lanes on busy streets don't make me feel safe, but I really liked the relocation to the sidewalk side. It was actually nicer as a pedestrian to be more separated from traffic. It's too bad that didn't catch on around more of the city. Was it too hard for parkers to figure out?

I was horrified when they moved the painted lines to the passenger-door side of the parked cars. The painted median was constantly over-run, with people parking right at the edge of (or in) the bike lane. Passengers are far less likely to check for cyclists before opening their door, and so the effective bike lane was about a foot wide along the curb. And at Smithe, the parked cars obscured the bike lane from drivers in the turn lane, causing way more right-hooks than usual.

Compared to that, I MUCH preferred where the bike lane used to be, out with the rest of traffic. But I applaud the fully separated lane that they're working on now.

[rofina]

I love biking in this City, its one of the best things going on a dry day.

However, I have to say that I'm pretty confused how the planning department expects downtown to function knowing that cars are literally never going away.

Maybe they become electric, maybe hydrogen, maybe self driving, maybe a dozen different things, but were not Europe where the old town centers lend themselves to being car free.

Whats the big picture plan here? Turn Downtown into a suburb where outsiders are not welcome and car users are looked down upon? Downtwon, to me, already only feels like a place welcoming for Downtown residents.

Personally, I much rather shop hastings sunrise, or burnaby heights. Great parking available, much less headache. If I need a mall, which I do perhaps once a quarter, Metrotown works, and soon I hope Brentwood.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by rofina

I love biking in this City, its one of the best things going on a dry day.

However, I have to say that I'm pretty confused how the planning department expects downtown to function knowing that cars are literally never going away.

Maybe they become electric, maybe hydrogen, maybe self driving, maybe a dozen different things, but were not Europe where the old town centers lend themselves to being car free.

Whats the big picture plan here? Turn Downtown into a suburb where outsiders are not welcome and car users are looked down upon? Downtwon, to me, already only feels like a place welcoming for Downtown residents.

Personally, I much rather shop hastings sunrise, or burnaby heights. Great parking available, much less headache. If I need a mall, which I do perhaps once a quarter, Metrotown works, and soon I hope Brentwood.

Here's the big picture plan. (Same number of cars accommodated; better facilities for bike & walking. The Richards two-way bike lane helps achieve the anticipated bike use). Again; it's the City Engineer's Plan, although planners helped supply the population and employment numbers.

"The over all goal of the Downtown Transportation Plan is to improve access to downtown homes and businesses while enhancing the unique attraction of downtown Vancouver.

Given the population and employment targets, the total number of trips to downtown will increase by 30 percent. However, the change in the number of trips is different for each of the modes. The more sustainable modes like walking and biking will increase the most. Outlined below is a short summary of how people will reach downtown destinations if all of the plan components are implemented within the next twenty years.

• Walk trips are expected to more than double.
• Bike trips are expected to more than double.
• Transit trips made during rush hour are expected to increase by 50 to 60 percent.
• Vehicles entering downtown are expected to decrease slightly or remain about the same.

In short, the plan accommodates significant increases in walk, bike and transit trips by recommending major improvements for these modes. At the same time, these improvements also achieve an overall reduction in vehicle congestion that will benefit motorists and goods movement and ultimately the economic vitality of the downtown."

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Thank you. I thought Robson Street shadowing prevented tall towers any more to the north and this one will be really tall. I hope it gets built and that block will be crazy once all towers are completed.

I assume this one will have shorter floor to floor heights, as city staff have still required the roof-line be sculpted to avoid shadowing the north sidewalks on Robson.

We had hoped to address this in a post, but unfortunately our personal lives are still chaotic right now.

[WarrenC12]

By chance, I drove down Richards today at rush hour. I know times aren't normal, but things are getting busier.

The drive was a breeze. As mentioned above, they need to get rid of street parking more than anything else to provide space. A lane was blocked for construction on Richards, leaving 2 lanes, and yet they still devoted one to parking. Why?!

In order to add tens of thousands of residents and jobs downtown, they can't all drive... that's just physics.